Action at EU level - Lobbying actors close to EU

FEANTSA is the European Federation of National Organisations working with the Homeless. It is an umbrella of not-for-profit organisations which participate in or contribute to the fight against homelessness in Europe. Established in 1989, FEANTSA represents today more than 150 organisations working with people experiencing homelessness in about 30 European countries which provide a wide range of services to people experiencing homelessness, including housing, health, employment support, social protection, rights and participation. It is the only major European network that focuses exclusively on homelessness at the European level.

FEANTSA works closely with the EU institutions, and has consultative status at the Council of Europe and the United Nations. It receives financial support from the European Commission.

FEANTSA is committed to:

• Engage in constant dialogue with the European institutions and national and regional governments to promote the development and implementation of effective measures to fight homelessness.
• Conduct and promote research and data collection to better understand the nature, extent, causes of, and solutions to, homelessness.
• Promote and facilitate the exchange of information, experience and good practice between FEANTSA’s member organisations and relevant stakeholders with a view to improve policies and practices addressing homelessness.
• Raise public awareness about the complexity of homelessness and the multidimensional nature of the problems faced by homeless people.
• To this end FEANTSA lobbies decision makers, commissions research, writes tools and toolkits, prepares regular policy documents and organises European seminars and conferences, and transnational exchange initiatives. In addition, FEANTSA runs a number of working groups, in which members discuss and analyse issues such as housing, housing rights, employment, health and social protection, data collection (statistics and indicators) and participation.

To get more information, please visit : www.feantsa.org

About Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) Habitat for Humanity International’s vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Anchored by the conviction that safe and affordable housing provides a critical foundation for breaking the cycle of poverty, Habitat has helped more than 3 millions people construct, rehabilitate or preserve homes since 1976.

Habitat also advocates for fair and just housing policies and provides training and access to resources to help more families improve their shelter conditions. As a nonprofit Christian housing organization, Habitat works in more than 70 countries and welcomes people of all races, religions and nationalities to partner in its mission.

To get more information, please visit : www.habitat.org

Housing Europe is the European Federation of Public, Cooperative Social Housing

Established in 1988, it is a network of 42 national and regional federations which together gather about 41.400 public, social and cooperative housing providers in 22 countries. Altogether they manage over 25 million homes, about 12% of existing dwellings in the EU.

Social, public and co-operative housing providers have a vision of a Europe which provides access to decent and affordable housing for all in communities which are socially, economically and environmentally sustainable and where everyone is enabled to reach their full potential.

How is social housing defined in the different countries of Europe ? National housing statistics and market trends per country, research briefings and publications. The European Social Housing Observatory is our branch that brings you all the data you need about the sector.

To get more information, please visit : www.housingeurope.eu

IUT considers housing as one of the fundamental rights in society, and therefore needs to be addressed locally, nationally and internationally. Adequate housing is also one of the safeguards for peace and security in Europe and elsewhere in the world. Homelessness is one of the major ingredients for social exclusion.

IUT and its members promote the "Tenants Charter", available in 10 languages (download on the website)

The activities of IUT include :

• Information through Internet, website The Global Tenant; www.iut.nu
• The Global Tenant magazine is published quarterly, English and FrenchSeminars
• Partnership with UN agencies, such as UN Economic Commission for Europe, ECE, and UN Center for Human Settlements - Habitat, Nairobi, Kenya.
• Partnership with the ENHR - European Network for Housing Research and APNHR - Asia-Pacific Network for Housing Research.
• Partnership in the EU network, European Housing Forum, EHF, Brussels

To get more information, please visit : www.iut.nu